Cigarette carton having a tuckable end flap closure

ABSTRACT

A cigarette carton comprises of front and rear panels with interconnecting top and bottom panels, and opposite end closures. At least one of the end closures includes and outside end panel having an insertion tongue or tuck tab and a cooperating inside end flap with a tongue retaining slit for releasably retaining the tongue or tuck tab of the end panel whereby the end of the carton is releasably closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reclosable cigarette carton, and more particularly to a cigarette carton having a tuckable end flap closure.

In many instances, cigarette packs are sold in cartons normally containing ten packs in two rows with five packs in each row. One common way of gaining access to the packs within the carton is to break the glue seal at the top of the carton and then remove the packs from the carton at the top. However, many carton customers prefer to open the carton from one end and then use the carton to store the remaining packs after removal of one or more individual packs. Currently cartons do not have end closure structure that enables reclosure of the opened end of the carton, and as a result thereof the end flaps of the carton simply remain open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is a standard cigarette carton having a reclosable end whereby individual cigarette packs may be removed from the carton and the carton releasably closed to store the remaining packs therein.

Another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton having an insertion tongue or tuck tab on an outside end closure panel of the carton and a tongue slit or receiving cut on a cooperating end closure flap in order to releasably close the carton at one end thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton of added convenience for the consumer and which provides the perception of improved freshness of the cigarette packs within the carton by providing a reclosable end structure.

In accordance with the present invention, a cigarette carton comprises front and rear panels with interconnecting top and bottom panels, and opposite end closures. At least one of the end closures includes an end panel with an insertion tongue or tuck tab and a cooperating end flap with a tongue retaining slit or receiving cut therein for releasably retaining the tongue or tab of the end panel. This structural relationship enables the carton to be opened at one end thereof and then releasably reclosed.

Preferably, the carton of the present invention is dimensioned to contain ten cigarette packs in two back-to-back rows with five packs in each row.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those noted above will be become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a reclosable cigarette carton, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the relcosable cigarette carton shown in FIG. 1, the front elevational view being identical;

FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view of the reclosable carton shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the reclosable carton shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a layout of a blank for making the reclosable cigarette carton of FIGS. 1-4, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in more particularity to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a cigarette carton 10 dimensioned to package ten cigarette packs 12 in two rows with five packs in each row. A blank layout for the carton 10 is shown in FIG. 5. The carton is fabricated from paper board and the like which is customary in the industry. The specifics of the carton 10 include a front panel 14 and a rear panel 16 with interconnecting top and bottom panels 18, 20 respectively. An inside top flap 22 is secured along the rear panel 16.

The left end of the carton 10 includes an inside bottom flap 24 which extends from bottom panel 20 and an inside end flap 26 which extends from the front panel 14. The left end of the carton further includes a left end panel 28 which extends from the rear panel 16.

The other end of the carton 10 includes an inside right end flap 30 which extends from the front panel and a right end panel 32 which extends from the rear panel 16. The right end panel 32 includes an insertion tongue or tuck tab 34 while the inside right end flap 30 includes a tongue retaining slit or receiving cut 36 for retaining the tongue or tab 34, as explained more fully below.

Referring to FIG. 5, the carton 10 is assembled by initially folding along longitudinal lines 40 and then positioning the top panel 18 over the inside top flap 22 while securing the panel 18 to inside top flap 22 with adhesive. The left end of the carton is closed by folding along transverse lines 42 and initially folding the end tab 24 followed by the end flap 26 and the left end panel 28. Adhesive is utilized to secure the left end panel 28 to the inside flap 26, as is well known in the industry.

Turning now to the right end of the carton 10, the right end panel 32 and the inside right end flap 30 are folded along transverse lines 44 with the inside right end flap 30 folded first and the right end panel 32 positioned over the right end flap and secured thereto with adhesive. Several glue joints (not shown) may be used to secure the right end panel 32 to the inside flap 30.

In actual use, the carton is initially opened by separating the glue joints that secure the right end panel 32 to the inside right end flap 30. An individual pack of cigarettes 12 or several packs may then be removed from the carton and the right end reclosed after such removal. Reclosure is accomplished by positioning the insertion tongue or tab 34 on the right end panel into the tongue receiving slit or cut 36 on the inside right end flap. 

1. A cigarette carton comprising front and rear panels with interconnecting top and bottom panels, and opposite end closures, and wherein at least one of end closures includes an outside end panel having an insertion tongue and a cooperating inside end flap with a tongue retaining slit for releasably retaining the tongue of the end panel.
 2. A cigarette carton as in claim 1 dimensioned to contain ten cigarette packs in two back-to-back rows with five packs in each row. 